Directional Microphones in Hearing Aids - How They Help in Noise

The number one complaint among hearing aid users worldwide is difficulty hearing in noisy environments. Whether it is a family dinner, a busy restaurant, or a crowded bazaar in Islamabad, background noise can overwhelm speech and make conversation frustrating. Directional microphone technology is the most effective solution to this challenge.

Omnidirectional vs Directional Microphones

Omnidirectional Microphones

An omnidirectional microphone picks up sound equally from all directions, creating a 360-degree pickup pattern. This is useful in quiet environments where you want to hear everything around you, but it becomes a problem in noise because it amplifies background sound just as much as speech.

Directional Microphones

A directional microphone system uses two or more microphones positioned a few millimeters apart on the hearing aid. By analyzing the tiny time differences between when sound arrives at each microphone, the processor can determine the direction of sounds and focus amplification on sounds coming from in front of you while reducing sounds from behind and the sides.

How Signia Directional Technology Works

Signia hearing aids feature some of the most advanced directional microphone systems available. Here is what makes them stand out:

Adaptive Directionality

Unlike fixed directional systems that always focus straight ahead, Signia's adaptive system continuously adjusts the direction of focus based on where speech and noise are coming from. If noise moves from behind you to your left side, the system automatically adjusts to suppress it from the new direction.

Narrow Directionality

In extremely noisy situations, premium Signia models can narrow the directional beam to focus on a very specific area directly in front of you. This is particularly useful in restaurants or meetings where you need to focus on a single speaker across the table.

Split Directionality

When wearing two hearing aids, Signia's binaural processing can set one ear to directional mode (to focus on speech) while keeping the other in omnidirectional mode (to maintain awareness of your surroundings). This gives you the best of both worlds.

Real-World Scenarios Where Directionality Helps

• Family gatherings: Multiple people talking, children playing, TV running in the background. Directional microphones focus on the person you are facing.
• Restaurants and cafes: Cutlery, other diners, and music are suppressed while your dining companion's voice is prioritized.
• Meetings and offices: Air conditioners, keyboards, and side conversations are reduced so you can follow the speaker.
• Markets and bazaars: In Islamabad's busy markets, directional microphones help you hear the shopkeeper directly in front of you over the surrounding chaos.
• Religious gatherings: Whether at a mosque or any place of worship, focusing on the speaker while reducing crowd noise is essential.

Which Signia Models Have Directional Microphones?

All Signia BTE hearing aids from the Intuis series and above include directional microphone technology. RIC models also feature dual microphones for directional processing. The more premium the model, the more sophisticated the directional algorithms become.

Note that CIC (Completely-in-Canal) hearing aids typically use a single microphone due to their small size, which limits directional capability. If hearing in noise is your primary concern, a BTE or RIC with dual microphones is the better choice.

Get the Right Technology for Your Lifestyle

Our audiologists at the Islamabad clinic will assess your listening environments and recommend the right level of directional technology. We demonstrate the difference between omnidirectional and directional modes during your fitting appointment so you can hear the improvement firsthand.